BERLIN — The town will not be moving forward with building a new police headquarters on Farmington Avenue — at least for the time being. An ordinance to appropriate the $21 million in funding needed to construct a 34,000-square-foot facility on the site of the old Kensington Furniture building was decisively defeated by the voters Tuesday, 5,020-3,111. Republican Councilman David Evans said the result of the referendum was evidence of what he and his partymates have said all along — that the public needed more time to weigh-in on the project and that more options need to be explored. “We certainly appreciate the folks that took the time to take out the referendum,” he said. “Maybe if we had waited a little while for things to level [after ongoing projects were completed] the folks may have been a bit more comfortable with this.” The conceptual design for the 903 and 913 Farmington Ave. site included a 34,000-square-foot building and a 2,000-square foot outbuilding. The site work, all soft costs and the funding needed for the boulevard to connect the police station to the train station were in its price tag. Mayor Rachel Rochette, a Democrat, said she wasn’t necessarily surprised that the project got rejected but was taken aback a bit by the margin of defeat. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Southington approves water facility upgrade and road work
SOUTHINGTON — Voters supported $16.2 million in upgrades to town infrastructure by voting yes to two of the three referendum questions on the ballot Tuesday. Voters approved a $5.2 million upgrade to the Water Pollution Control Facility with 8,360 in favor and 6,583 opposing, according to unofficial results. Upgrading the facility would save $145,000 a year because it would reduce the amount of sludge that would need to be hauled from the plant. It would also eliminate odors from water treatment techniques. They also approved $11 million for repairs and maintenance of 276 roads in town with 10,885 voting yes and 4,470 no. Voters denied the construction of a new sewer line and pump station on Welch road at a cost of $2.64 million.
There were 8,218 that voted no and 6,362 that voted yes. Installing the new system was intended to stimulate development of 300 acres of undeveloped land in the area.
“We would have liked to see all three pass but the voters have spoken and we respect the people,” said Republican Town Councilor Tom Lombardi. “I’m really happy to see the roads pass and people realize how much we invest in our infrastructure in town,”said Chris Palmieri, a Democratic councilor. By 2:30 p.m. at Derynoski School, 1,040 of the 3,144 eligible voters in that precinct had cast a ballot. “It’s been an excellent turnout,” said Richard Burbank , the head moderator. “If we could do another 25 to 30 percent that would be great.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
MANCHESTER — Voters on Tuesday passed a school modernization plan that many consider an investment in the town's future.
The $84.2 million proposal passed by more than 1,000 votes Tuesday. It would combine Bennet Academy with the Cheney Building for a new fifth- and sixth-grade school and complete "like-new" renovations and additions to Verplanck and Waddell elementary schools so each school could serve up to 530 students. After state reimbursement, the plan will cost local taxpayers $37.6 million, town officials have said. "It's a great day for Manchester when we all invest in education," Mayor Jay Moran said. "That this referendum passed is a strong statement for the future of Manchester." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE